Dangers of Tylenol

Tylenol or acetophenamin is one the drugs you tend to have around the house and is used commonly used for pain and fever reduction in people of all ages. However, it does have potentially very serious toxic side effects, and this is typically seen when there is an overdose, usually unintended, by a care provider administers more than they should or in the event a toddler, perhaps, or a little child takes a big drink of the liquid version of tylenol. The initial symptoms may be very mild or very subtle and not even be distinguishable from a mild stomache, but the implications for internal organs, particularly the liver, can be of extreme consequence. So if there is any indication that a small person has taken a larger dose of tylenol than they should have, this is the time to take them immediately to the emergency room. I don't think that calling your pediatrician's office is going to really be that helpful. These kids need to be seen in the emergency room and have blood tests done and, if need be, have emergency treatment initated because time is really of the essence now. You want to make sure that if there has been an ingestion that the speed of a response is significant.

Richard Pass, RN

Registered Nurse & CPR Expert

Richard Pass, RN, BS, was born in Los Angeles. He studied nursing in Portland, Oregon and has since practiced nursing for 35 years, including ICU, Emergency, and Cardiology nursing. Richard started his CPR & Family Safety educational company, Save a Little Life, Inc., in 1999. With Save a Little Life, Inc., Richard presents house calls and classes all over the Los Angeles area. He teaches medical-surgical nursing at California State University, and is married with two grown children and one grandchild.

Tylenol or acetophenamin is one the drugs you tend to have around the house and is used commonly used for pain and fever reduction in people of all ages. However, it does have potentially very serious toxic side effects, and this is typically seen when there is an overdose, usually unintended, by a care provider administers more than they should or in the event a toddler, perhaps, or a little child takes a big drink of the liquid version of tylenol. The initial symptoms may be very mild or very subtle and not even be distinguishable from a mild stomache, but the implications for internal organs, particularly the liver, can be of extreme consequence. So if there is any indication that a small person has taken a larger dose of tylenol than they should have, this is the time to take them immediately to the emergency room. I don't think that calling your pediatrician's office is going to really be that helpful. These kids need to be seen in the emergency room and have blood tests done and, if need be, have emergency treatment initated because time is really of the essence now. You want to make sure that if there has been an ingestion that the speed of a response is significant.